“Not funny.” That’s what I muttered when a tree branch across the street fell and knocked out our power yesterday—just two minutes before Richard, the mason, and his crew arrived. Fortunately, widening a brick doorway is largely manual work. Chiseling out bricks and removing cinder blocks can be done without electricity, so progress didn’t grind to a halt. When the power came back an hour later, the crew barely noticed; they were deep into demolition while I did an awkward little happy dance in the background.
By the end of the day the doorway was widened to a bright, welcoming five-foot opening, and the house remained perfectly intact. This was the culmination of a nerve-wracking but carefully executed phase of the project—one that had some contractors initially uneasy about the structural implications. The finished result, as seen from the kitchen looking into the den, feels dramatic and very satisfying.
Right now the crew is framing the new opening, and the transformation is striking. With the wider passage between rooms, the living room, kitchen, and den read as one larger, more cohesive space. The house suddenly has a modern, open feel that’s miles away from the compartmentalized layout it had before. Where once a narrow doorway limited sightlines and light, you can now see through the kitchen into the den and even glimpse the hallway that leads on to the sunroom. The change is worth every bit of dust and demolition.
The benefits go beyond aesthetics. Opening up doorways like this improves circulation—both of people and of daylight—creating rooms that feel larger and more inviting. It also makes the home function better for everyday life: cooking, entertaining, and supervising kids all become easier when sightlines and pathways are unobstructed. Structurally, widening an opening takes planning: you need to assess the load-bearing situation, install temporary supports, and ensure a proper header or beam is in place before removing masonry. Working with a skilled mason and a careful crew makes all the difference.
Practical takeaways from the day:
- Expect dust and noise. Even if some demolition can be done by hand, brick and mortar removal creates dust. Seal off nearby rooms and protect furniture.
- Plan for temporary power interruptions. Mechanical tools rely on electricity, and unexpected outages can delay power tools, so have manual backup tools when possible.
- Prepare for framing immediately after demolition. Once the opening is cleared, framing and header installation should follow quickly to ensure the structure remains secure.
- Think about flow. Before committing to widening an opening, visualize how the rooms will connect and how light and traffic will move through the new space.
- Hire experienced tradespeople. Masonry and structural changes require skill and judgment; a seasoned crew will avoid costly mistakes.
At the end of this workday I walked through the newly opened rooms and couldn’t help smiling. The house already feels brighter and more connected, and the wider doorway sets the tone for the rest of the renovation. There’s still trim, paint, and finish carpentry to do, but seeing the new sightlines in place makes everything feel purposeful. For anyone considering a similar change: it’s messy for a day or two, but the payoff in light, space, and usability is huge.